The treatment that Sears employees were subjected to is disgusting, but normal. The fact that huge corporations can treat the very people who are really responsible for the company’s success is incomprehensible to me. Just think what would happen if nobody answered the company’s offer to hire.

The only way to deal with this dilemma is for everybody to adopt the attitude that 10 per cent of everything they earn is theirs to keep, no matter how small.

We have to ignore commercials. Every word that is used has been researched for its power to convince the listener to buy and most of the items for sale we don’t need anyway. Remember that a car or a house is a liability, not an asset.

We also have to take responsibility for our retirement from day one. Read books and articles about money management, consult investment advisors and check out life insurance (the younger you are, the better).

You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming and encouraging your greatest asset.